Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. Manh H. Nguyen has a 56% approval rate across 3,692 decisions on record since 2016, while the bench at this office ranges from 30% to 63% over the same period. In the most recent reporting period, the 59% approval rate sits 6 points below the office-wide average of 65%. These figures provide a statistical baseline for your case.
Office- and national-level breakdowns of fully favorable vs denial rates aren't currently published by SSA in the per-office disposition data. The judge's own breakdown is the detail we have today.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Nguyen's docket. Annual rates fluctuate with the mix of cases SSA assigns; the longer-run pattern is more informative than any single year.
Decision pattern
The approval rate for Manh H. Nguyen has remained relatively steady across the 3,692 decisions on record since 2016. While yearly fluctuations occurred, such as a dip to 53% in 2024 followed by an uptick to 61% in 2025, the overall pattern shows consistent decision-making. The latest period approval rate of 59% is slightly higher than the long-term average.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Nguyen's bench. Judge-specific preparation guidance requires a corpus of public Appeals Council decisions involving each judge, which we haven't built yet.
- Bring a clean treating-physician record. Longitudinal primary-care or specialist notes spanning the disability period, with consistent symptom documentation, are typically the strongest evidence at hearing. A single month's records usually aren't enough.
- Don't rely on consultative exams alone. If your medical evidence is built primarily around a one-time CE finding, expect detailed questioning. Supplement with treating-source statements where possible.
- Prepare for daily-activity questions. Have honest, specific answers about a typical day. Answers that conflict with the medical record (in either direction) tend to hurt credibility.
- Expect transferable-skills probing. A vocational expert will usually testify about jobs available to someone with your limitations. Your representative should be prepared to cross-examine.
About the Mt Pleasant MI hearing office
The most recent office on record for Manh H. Nguyen is the MT Pleasant MI hearing office, with data current through July 2026. This office serves claimants across the region and maintains a bench of 8 judges. With an office-wide latest-period approval rate of 65%, you should focus on building a robust medical record to support your specific disability claim.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Mt Pleasant MI
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you draw is essentially random. There are 8 judges whose most recent office on record is the MT Pleasant MI hearing office, 6 of whom decided cases in the latest SSA file. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 30% to 63% since 2016.
Approval rates change with a lawyer
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.
Frequently asked questions
Manh H. Nguyen has a 56% approval rate on record since 2016, which falls within the 30% to 63% range of other judges whose most recent office on record is MT Pleasant MI. An attorney can help you prepare your case for this specific bench.
The approval rate has remained relatively steady since 2016, with 3,692 total decisions on record. While there are yearly variations, the pattern shows consistent decision-making over time. A qualified attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific evidence.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because you cannot control your assignment, an attorney can help you prepare for any judge at the MT Pleasant MI office.
A hearing is a formal proceeding where you, your attorney, and potentially a vocational expert or medical expert testify before the judge. The judge will review your medical evidence and ask questions about your ability to perform work-related tasks. An attorney can help you prepare your testimony and organize your medical records for the hearing.
An approval rate is a statistical summary of past decisions, not a prediction of your specific outcome. Your case's success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well it meets the SSA's disability criteria. An attorney can help you evaluate your case strengths and prepare for your hearing.
